The program for this December was All About the Holiday Plants, presented by florist Lori Dupont from Floral Acres in Antioch. She talked about the most popular holiday plants: poinsettias and holiday cactus, from the history of the plants to varieties and caring tips for them. Members learned a lot about these beautiful holiday plants.
Tis the holiday season, our meeting room was filled with holiday vibes. There were colorful raffle prices and delicious food to share after the program. We also played a gardening quiz between members and celebrated with Holly Markwart Swehla for her achievement of receiving a master gardener certificate. This would be the last in person meeting of this year for our club. We wish all our members and their families a very happy and healthy holiday season!
The program for the November was Incredible Bats. It was presented by Sharon Peterson, an elementary school teacher/librarian and has been trained by Bat Conservation International in the conservation of bats. Since 1996, Sharon and her husband Daniel have traveled to 10 states across the Midwest and Canada with their program. They have been promoting bat education through these presentations. Sharon and her assistant Kim White shared their experiences, taught us about the many benefits of this misunderstood and feared creature. It was very educational. All the people attended the program enjoyed learning and interreacting with this amazing animal and some other companion animals.
At the end of the meeting, the club membership chair Jackie H. conducted a ceremony, inducting two new members: Donna R. and Laura V. to join the club. Welcome our new members!
What a nice sunny autumn day. We had 14 existing members, 2 new members (who were willing to join the club and were inducted into the club right away on the site) and 1 guest attended the program. In addition, we welcomed GCI District IX director Barbara Gilblair and 1st vice director Carol Ohrn for visiting us and joining our meeting. We gathered together at the Osmond Park, a 78-acre park in Antioch which is being renovated by the Antioch township. There are several local organizations involved as well. Our club has been assisting in the areas of adding native trees in the wooded area and native flowers around the disc golf greens, plus an expended butterfly waystation in the park. After the business meeting, members and guests toured some areas of the park. It was great to have our meeting at an outdoor setting during the pandemic. Everyone who attended this program enjoyed camaraderie and site scene.
We had the first of the club's 2021-2022 year all-member meeting this afternoon at the Williams Park Pavilion. The weather was warm and breezy. We went through a lot of agendas. We discussed club business; inducted new members; watched the release of two monarch butterflies and presented a lifetime membership certificate to Barb Gollwitzer, our former 2-term president, to honor her for the job well done. Also everyone received a new yearbook. Members who attended the meeting were happy to see each other. Hope to see more of you in October where we will have our all member's meeting at the Tim Osmond Park, a 78-acre park in Antioch.
The Williams Park Pavilion
We had a very successful day on this August plant sale event at the Tractor Supply Store parking lot. More than a dozen of members participated, either by donating plants or items for sale and/or helped at the sale booth. A lot of plants that were dug out from members' gardens were satisfying many local customers. The manually raised monarch butterfly chrysalides brought in a lot of interest as well. Our members were having a good time mingling with each other, especially getting acquainted with many new members. Kudos to Cindy C. and Barb G. our Ways and Means co chairs for well organizing this event. We are looking forward to the next fundraiser in September.
The AGC Meet and Greet event was held on Saturday, August 14, 2021. Many members, include 5 new members participated the event. Everyone had a good time mingling with each other, accompanied by some delicious treats. A lot of members toured the village gardens led by the horticulture committee members. There were people stopped by and expressed their interest in joining our club. This was a very successful event. Hope to have more in the future. Here are some pictures from the event.
Happy 4th of July to all our Antioch Garden Club members, and their families and friends! The horticultural committee members have worked hard to prepare the village gardens for this big day to celebrate our national independence day. The gardens are lush and colorful. Please stop by all 5 village gardens in downtown Antioch to see what are in bloom right now with your own eyes. Here are some pictures to give you a first glance.
We were very excited that our in-person meeting has been back! At this June meeting, the Antioch Garden Club was pleased to welcome Ainsley Wonderling from the Lakes Region Historical Society, who presented a short program on the history of Antioch. She described some of the society’s many museum pieces and told a little about the history of the society itself in Antioch. She wrote the book, “Celebrating Antioch, Past and Present” and is the director of the society.
The meeting was the first in-person meeting of the club since the pandemic started. The club gathered at its new meeting location, the Antioch Senior Center. Club members approved changing its meeting day to the second Saturday of the month at 1 p.m., which will take effect with the next meeting in September.
Club members also learned about the Antioch Township’s Osmond Park improvement project, which the club will assist with, including designing native flower beds at the holes on the disc golf course in the park. The club’s existing monarch butterfly way station also will be expanded.
Additionally, club members will be involved in improvements to downtown Antioch, specifically in the Mini Park, it maintains in the center of the town. Club members will be asked for input on future plans for the space. The village wants to increase foot traffic in all areas of the downtown and encourage people to park in lots behind Main Street.